While the focus of the NHL lockout’s impact understandably lands on the players from that league who are now in the AHL, there is another level of fallout one rung down the ladder.

New Syracuse defenseman Charles Landry is an example of that.

Landry was recalled from Florida of the ECHL earlier this week. Last season, the depth player was valuable enough to skate in 23 games with Calder Cup champion Norfolk.

This year, the deeper pool of AHL talent has made those cameo roles much rarer. A spot that Landry might have claimed in Syracuse from the start of the season was instead filled by potential NHLers such as Keith Aulie or Mark Barberio.

“The lockout, it’s not good for anybody in the world of hockey. But everybody has to live with it,” Landry said. “It’s nice to spend time with the coaches, team, just get better. The American League is a higher level. To spend one week here with the boys and the coaching staff, that’s going to make me a better player.”

Landry was recalled because of injuries to Aulie and Evan Oberg. He’s expected to stick around at least through this weekend, when Syracuse has another three-in-three stretch.